Monthly Archives: February 2016

By Charles Elmore – Palm Beach Post Staff Writer Hurricanes may have swerved away since 2005, but Florida’s homeowners still are taking direct hits on the wallet. Floridians pay the nation’s most expensive home insurance premiums, averaging $2,115, up from $2,084 a year earlier, statistics released Wednesday show. “The annual premium increases are not justified,”…

BY CARLOS LOPEZ-CANTERA Florida has taken some tough hits when it comes to major storms and bad weather in the past. Thankfully, it has been over 10 years since a major storm has hit the state. However, it is concerning that Florida homeowners are facing the highest home insurance rates in the country and still…

BY JIM TURNER The News Service of Florida Published: February 24, 2016 TALLAHASSEE — A new effort is underway in the Florida Senate to further regulate a controversial practice that property insurers say is leading to rate increases. The Senate General Government Appropriations Subcommittee on Wednesday unanimously approved a proposal (SB 1248) dealing with the…

NEW YORK, February 29, 2016 —Women have made great strides in the business world in the past few decades. And business insurance is essential to protecting their hard-earned capital, according to the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.). Forty years ago women owned just 5 percent of all small businesses in the United States. Today, they own…

Palm Beach Post A lane may be opening in the Florida Senate for a potential compromise on a heavily lobbied proposal involving app-based transportation services such as Uber and Lyft. The Senate and House have taken different positions on the issue, with Senate leaders focused on adding insurance requirements for drivers and the House approving…

TALLAHASSEE — With time starting to run out on an insurance-industry priority, Lt. Gov. Carlos Lopez-Cantera is urging House and Senate leaders to take action on a controversial practice known as “assignment of benefits.” In a memo Thursday to House Speaker Steve Crisafulli and Senate President Andy Gardiner, Lopez-Cantera said assignment-of-benefits “abuse” has led to…

The Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday postponed a vote on a measure that would regulate homeowners’ ability to sign over their right to collect insurance benefits to third parties. Logan McFaddin, state government relations manager for the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America (PCI), issued this statement: “Assignment of Benefits (AOB) abuse is a critical…

ORLANDO,Fla. — Action 9 exposed some bogus offers to replace home roofs for free. In a hidden camera investigation, Action 9’s Todd Ulrich found out how the offers drive up the cost of insurance. The fliers left on front doors may claim a roof is damaged, and can be replaced for free. Several homeowners contacted…

As reported by FloridaPolitics.com earlier this week, the pool of applicants to replace outgoing Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty is so far anything but impressive. The applicant list stands at 32 interested parties, yet only three appear to be eligible based on the state’s pre-screening questions. On Tuesday, we learned that former Rep. Tom Grady would not be applying…